breathless
Out of air
Breathless describes being out of breath, as after exertion: She arrived breathless from running up the stairs.
It extends to states of intense emotion—excitement, anticipation, or awe—that feel like they stop your breath: breathless with anticipation, The view left us breathless.
Breathless prose or narration moves rapidly without pause, creating urgency.
Something breathless can also be airless or still: the breathless summer heat.
Rapid labored breathing
- gaspingBreathing in sharp gulps
- windedShort of breath
- huffingLabored, audible breathing
- wheezingHarsh, whistling respiration
heaving · labored · spent · exhausted · fatigued · overexerted · sweating · strained
Overcome by profound wonder
- wonderAmazement or curiosity
- amazedOverwhelmed by sudden wonder
- astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
- mesmerizedHeld in rapt attention
enthralled · transfixed · marvel · awe-inspired · captivated · enraptured · spellbound · starstruck
Shocked into speechlessness
- dumbstruckRendered speechless by shock
- wordlessLacking spoken content
- tongue-tiedUnable to express oneself
- silencedRendered unable to speak
gobsmacked · flabbergasted · agape · open-mouthed · slack-jawed · thunderstruck · floored · staggered
Death from oxygen loss
- chokingBlocked airway condition
- smotheringDepriving of air
- stranglingCompressing throat to suffocate
- airlessHaving no atmosphere
stifling · hypoxia · constricted · drowning · throttling · suffocating · airway · anoxia
Overjoyed beyond measure
- exhilaratedIntensely happy and energized
- adrenalineEmergency response hormone
- giddyDizzy or excitedly silly
- anticipationState of awaiting something
eager · electrified · buzzing · heart-pounding · on-edge · suspense · cliff-hanger · nail-biting
panting
Rapid labored breathing
wheezing · heaving · labored · spent · exhausted · fatigued · overexerted · sweating · strained · gulping
awestruck
Overcome by profound wonder
- wonderAmazement or curiosity
- amazedOverwhelmed by sudden wonder
- astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
mesmerized · enthralled · transfixed · marvel · awe-inspired · captivated · enraptured · spellbound · starstruck · rapt
stunned
Shocked into speechlessness
- dumbstruckRendered speechless by shock
- wordlessLacking spoken content
- tongue-tiedUnable to express oneself
silenced · gobsmacked · flabbergasted · agape · open-mouthed · slack-jawed · thunderstruck · floored · staggered · shell-shocked
asphyxiation
Death from oxygen loss
- chokingBlocked airway condition
- smotheringDepriving of air
- stranglingCompressing throat to suffocate
airless · stifling · hypoxia · constricted · drowning · throttling · suffocating · airway · anoxia · claustrophobic
thrilled
Overjoyed beyond measure
- exhilaratedIntensely happy and energized
- adrenalineEmergency response hormone
- giddyDizzy or excitedly silly
anticipation · eager · electrified · buzzing · heart-pounding · on-edge · suspense · cliff-hanger · nail-biting · edge-of-seat
hushed
Reduced to silence
- suspendedHalted or hanging temporarily
- frozenSolidified by extreme cold
- motionlessLacking all movement
quiet · calm · pause · silence · waiting · still · tranquil · hush · expectant · poised
lifeless
Devoid of animation
- breathlessnesswinded, gasping, panting, huffing, puffing
- thrillsroller coasters, thrill, adrenaline, skydiving, bungee jump
- breathinginhalation, exhalation, labored, deep, shallow
- anticipationanticipating, expectation, expectancy, expecting, awaiting
- astonishmentamazement, awe, wonder, wonderstruck, awestruck
- suspensesuspense, suspenseful, tension, nail-biter, nail-biting
- breathless anticipationIntense expectant excitement